Of Payoffs In Waiting (or Something About a Gaping Grave)

Yesterday my dad's oldest brother () was laid to rest.He is an uncle fondly remembered by his nieces and nephews for his good-natured, uncomplaining and optimistic outlook though his life had many hardships!We cousins are in a stage where funerals have become our meeting placeand with these gatherings comes the solemn reminderour childhood playmates are not children anymore,all of us under the influence of Time's unflinching touch and we are reminded of this truth;that death can come to the youngbut it will come to the oldand the realization is dawning that our generation is on the heels of the one we are, one by one, laying to rest!A ripe old age turns to mist in death's twinkling of an eye!So then, as we turn again to shoulder our yokes of scarred delightpray we do not lose sight of the only payoff that countswhen, for all 'momentary mountains/afflictions, the eternal payoff is unveiled! Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Just beyond what we can see ... (No matter how bitter/sweet)lies Payoff's Eternity... Below, a bit of 'sweet'.This dog can be sassy and silly one minuteand sound asleep at my feet the next!!😂 Though the payoff of push and shoveThrough ups and downs of life and loveMay appear, to the sphere of sightLike a showcase of scarred delightWhile grappling with the yoke of truthBy fresh parades of fading youth And though the payoff may seem smallFor prayers that rise and tears that fallWhere today holds no guaranteesThat Circumstance will aim to pleaseThe Hierarchy of Hope and DreamWe nurture with fondest esteem …and though the payoff drags its feetWhere hold and letting go competeSomething about a gaping graveWhen mourners meet, its scene to braveReminds us with sobrietyOf a payoff we cannot see The payoff for man’s hope and hurtIs not a fresh-turned mound of dirtIs not a final farewell tearIs not the boon of now and hereOh no! Death is the turn of keyWhere push and shove/life and love’s payoff will be So then, before it is too latePray we would reevaluateThe quests and payments we applaudAnd rest our confidence in GodWho will, for all eternityUnveil what the payoff will be © Janet Martin We sang two of my favourite hymns yesterday and